Alexithymia and Suicidal Ideation among Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Demonstrator of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Zagazig University,

2 Assistant Professor of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing - Zagazig University

Abstract

Background: Obsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) is a highly prevalent and chronic condition that is associated with substantial global disability, OCD is a prevalent and chronic psychiatric disorder that significantly impairs global functioning, quality of life, and well-being of the individual and associated support systems. Alexithymia is known to be associated with suicidal ideation as well in the clinical population of people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Aim of the study: Was to assess alexithymia and suicidal ideation among patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Subjects and Methods; Research design: A crosssectional design was adopted to carry out this study. Setting: The study was conducted at psychiatric outpatient clinic at Zagazig University Hospitals and Abbasyia Hospital for mental health in Cairo city. Subjects: A purposive sample of 140 patients with obsessive compulsive disorder. Tools of data collection: Four tools will be used to collect the necessary data for this study. They were: Socio-demographic questionnaire, Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (Y-BOCS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) and scale for Suicidal Ideation.
Results: The study reveals that more than two thirds of studied patients had mild obsessive compulsive level, more than two-thirds of studied patients had alexithymia, more than twothirds of studied patients had suicidal ideation, and there were statistically significant positive correlations between patients’ obsessive compulsive and alexithymia and suicidal ideation score. Conclusion: Patients’ suicidal ideation score was statistically significant positive predictor for obsessive compulsive disorder. Also, patients’ obsessive compulsive score was statistically significant positive predictor for suicidal ideation. Recommendations: Developing psychoeducation program to patients and family member (s) about OCD, its course, treatment options including duration of treatment. Developing emotion focused intervention strategies for patients to reduce alexithymia and enhancing their self- efficacy of emotional dysregulation (alexithymia).

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